Ondo State Governor, Dr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has called for proactive solutions that will reduce Nigeria’s dependence on foreign refined oil and help bring down the cost of fuel for domestic consumption, Peak Newspaper reports.
The Governor made the call on Monday, November 10, 2025, at the opening ceremony of the 43rd Annual International Conference and Exhibition of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), held in Lagos.
Governor Aiyedatiwa, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the event, commended the leadership of NAPE for building a strong professional community of explorationists and geoscientists who have continued to drive innovation and discovery in the nation’s oil and gas sector.
He congratulated the incoming President of NAPE, Mrs. Olajumoke Ajayi, Ondo State Indigene, wishing her a tenure marked by progress, innovation, and impactful leadership that would further strengthen the association’s legacy of excellence and service.
According to him, the 43rd anniversary of NAPE is a testament to its resilience, commitment, and purposeful leadership, which have consistently advanced Nigeria’s energy industry.
Governor Aiyedatiwa noted that the oil and gas sector has, for over seven decades, remained a major contributor to Nigeria’s revenue base, funding numerous capital projects and infrastructural developments across the country.
“The oil and gas industry cannot be underestimated. It has been at the heart and a major catalyst for Nigeria’s growth and infrastructural development,” he stated.
He emphasized the need for the sector to embrace a balanced energy mix that includes renewable energy sources as Nigeria diversifies its revenue base beyond oil dependency.
“This is very important as the country strives to diversify its sources of revenue by supporting and funding other sectors to expand wealth creation and ensure sustainability,” he added.
Aiyedatiwa further highlighted Ondo State’s growing contribution to national energy security, noting that the state ranks fifth among hydrocarbon-producing states in Nigeria, with an output of about 60,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
He also reiterated that Ondo State is home to the largest deposit of bitumen in Nigeria, which remains largely untapped.
The Governor recalled that in July 2025, his administration signed a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreement with Backbone Infrastructure Limited and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to establish a 500,000 barrels-per-day petroleum refinery in Ilaje Local Government Area of the state.
“This project will not only boost domestic refining capacity but also create thousands of jobs and support the federal government’s efforts at achieving energy sufficiency,” he said.
In his remarks, the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, said the narrative of Nigeria’s energy sector began to change with the administration of President Bola Tinubu, who has prioritized reforms and investment growth in the industry.
Also, the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Ms. Olu Verheijen, noted that since 2023, the Federal Government has provided a clear direction toward strengthening exploration and investment through partnerships with countries that have made remarkable progress in the oil and gas industry.
Earlier in his welcome address, NAPE President, Mr. Johnbosco Uche, described the conference as a strategic platform for exchanging insights, knowledge, and innovations geared toward shaping the future of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
He emphasized that revitalizing exploration operations and reforming regulatory frameworks require robust collaboration between government, stakeholders, and academia, anchored on data-driven innovation and investment-friendly policies.
The conference, themed “Revitalizing the Nigerian Petroleum Exploration and Production Strategies for Energy Security and Sustainable Development,” attracted key players, policymakers, and experts from across the energy value chain.
